The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-08
HONEST PATRIOTISM.
A Man Who Is Willing to Sacrifice Him.
self for His Country's Sake.

about the coast defenses. The idea has
somehow got abroad that our coasts
ought to be lined with forts and guns
as warning to Europe against declar-
| ing war against us some morning before
breakfast. Engineers have surveyed
and reported, and Congressional com
mittees have sat and reported, and for
about $50, 100000 we can get things in
such shape that when the enemy's first
iron-clad heaves in sight she can be
saluted in proper style.
A lot of Ms were sitting IN the depot
waiting-room at Trenton, and the only
man who had a newspaper was reading
sway for dear life, when stranger
entered with two sachels and tall
girl, chugged the baggage under seat,
waved the girl to another, and walked
up to the man with the newspaper and
asked:
Mister, is there any thing in the
paper about our coast defenses?"
mo, siti'' was the gruff reply.
"That's singular. Have they given
up the idea, do you think?'
81 don't know what you mean, sir"
"You don't? Why, they've been talk
ing for the last year about building forts
TO protect our coasts. live down near
the mouth of Toms river, and rather
expect they'll build a big fort there.
The way things are now England,
France or Germany could declare war
against us and land force at Toms
river before we had our eyes open.
They'd land right on my farm, and no
body knows the damage they'd do.
Don't see any thing about a fort at
Toms river, eh?''
''No, sir"
"WeH, that's singular. If this gov
erament expects me to get down behind
a rock with my old shotgun and keep
Europe from landing at that point it's
! expecting a leetle too much of one man.
I'd fight to the death, of course, but the
chances are tL~t hull navy could lick
i one nigh-sighted man. So the paper
don't say any thing?"
Didn't l tell you no in the first
placen'
"Say! mebbe you don't keer a copper
about coast defensesr' exclaimed the
two-sachel man as red spot appeared
on either cheek
mot copper, sir!''
81 thought so from the start! You
/ live out in Michigan or Indiana or Hi
nois, and are tucked away in some holler
where the sheriff can't find We, let alone
an invader of our sacred sile! o, no,
you don't keerv'
''Father!' chided the tall girl, as she
half rose; but he turned on her with:
MARY, you keep shet! Eve allus
thought if Europe declared war agiu us
we'd have plenty of enemies right at
home, and here's case to prove it!
Stranger, did you fit in the last WARP"
"None o. your business, sir!''
There's his open hand, gentlemenr'
said the two-sachel man, as he turned
to the crowd. when you find a man
who don't keer how soon the hull
of Europe jumps on this country
you have found man who'd dig
up the bones of Washington and sell
EN- to a junk man for five dollarsn'
The man with the newspaper laid it
down, got on his feet, and asked the
other if he would step outdoors min
ute.
mo, sir, won'tr' was the prompt
reply. I'm the fust place, I've got
these two sachels to purtect; in the
second place, there's Mary; in the third
place, don't fight with no man who
didn't fight in the last war. In the fust
place asked We if there was any thing
in the paper about our coast defenses."
"And l said no, you idiot!''
And you said you didn't keerr'
"Neither do IT,
There's his hand agin, gentlemen!
While I'm lying behind rock at Toms
river, waiting to sell my life in defence
of my country, here's a Teller from
Coon Holler, State of Indiana, who
don't keer cooper's copper how quick
Europe kivers the site of New Jersey
with the blood of our bravest menu
Father chided Mary again.
'Lemme alone, Mary! You know all
about carpet rags and darning and
homework, but you never heard the
rumble of war. If Europe is going to
jump onto this country want to know
who's going to shoot me in the back as
l face the enemy"
The n>an with the newspaper opened
it and sat down with dangerous gilt
ter in his eyes, and there was solemn
J silence for few minutes. Then the
Toms river man edged over to Mary
and they slid out doors together. Then
he beckoned through the open window
to three or four of us, and as we went
out he surrounded us and whispered:
"Gentlemen, it's my solemn opinion
that that Teller is jannisary from
Europe who has come over here to coax
Uncle Sam not to put up any coast de-
fences. want to say right here, and
want you to hear it and remember it,
that if the enemy land at Toms river it
will be over my dead body. And
won't be to blame for tn Quad,
| ils Detroit Free Press.
|
|